PRESIDENT MOBUTU TEN DAYS AGO (29 JUNE) INAUGURATED CONGO-KINSHASA'S GROUND SATELLITE STATION IN NSELE, CONGO-KINSHASA, AND WATCHED A TELEVISION PROGRAMME BROADCAST LIVE FROM THE UNITED STATES. IT'S CONGO-KINSHASA'S ENTRY INTO SPACE COMMUNICATIONS -- FROM NOW ON, KINSHASA CAN BE IN DIRECT CONTACT, BY TELEVISION, TELEPHONE, AND TELEGRAPH WITH ALMOST ANY PART OF THE WORLD.

SYNOPSIS: PRESIDENT MOBUTU OF CONGO-KINSHASA FLEW FROM THE COUNTRY'S CAPITAL TO OPEN HIS NATION'S FIRST SATELLITE GROUND STATION.

THE PRESIDENT UNVEILED A STONE BEFORE TAKING PART IN AN HISTORIC CEREMONY....THE FIRST LIVE SATELLITE CONNECTION BETWEEN CONGO-KINSHASA AND THE UNITED STATES.

PRESIDENT MOBUTU WAS SHOWN AROUND THE ESTABLISHMENT WHICH WAS COMPLETED WITHIN A YEAR AFTER THE LAYING OF THE FIRST FOUNDATIONS.

AS PART OF THE CEREMONY, A DIRECT TELECAST BETWEEN CONGO-KINSHASA AND THE UNITED STATES WAS SET UP. THE AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE, MR. WILLIAM ROGERS EXCHANGED GREETINGS WITH HIS COUNTERPART IN KINSHASA, MR. MARIO CARDOSO. AMONG THE GUESTS AT THE CEREMONY WAS PRESIDENT BIDEL BOKASSA OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC.